'Controversy over exhibition of a pro-Japanese collaborator’s calligraphy': Yu Hong-jun offers resignation, saying, “It is entirely my responsibility”

[Financial News] Yu Hong-jun, director of the National Museum of Korea, offered his resignation on the 21st, taking responsibility for the mistaken exhibition of calligraphy from his collection by a pro-Japanese collaborator as the work of an independence activist. This comes 15 months after he took office in July last year.
In a statement distributed by the museum that day, Yu said, “All the criticism to date is entirely my responsibility,” and added, “I have concluded that the right thing to do to restore the museum’s tarnished reputation is to step down as director.”
He acknowledged that his personal mistake had brought the public’s trust and the values built up by museum employees crashing down in an instant. He offered a heartfelt apology to the public, the families of independence activists and museum staff who had been disappointed and hurt by the incident.
He also referred to the efforts of the research staff who prepared the special exhibition “Our Table” and expressed hope that the incident would not diminish the exhibition’s significance.
He said that being able to spend 15 months protecting the value of cultural heritage had been “the greatest blessing and honor of my life,” and thanked the employees who had worked alongside him for their efforts. He also called on the public to continue its love and support so the museum could make further strides.
The controversy erupted after “Ilbansigukeun,” presented at the special exhibition as a calligraphic work by independence activist Park Won-geun, was found to be the writing of pro-Japanese collaborator Park Jung-yang. After receiving a tip from an outside source, the museum removed the work on August 10 and announced the findings of its investigation on the 7th of last month, following expert verification.
The fact that the work belonged to Yu’s personal collection and that he had personally recommended it for the exhibition later came to light, bringing both inadequate verification and the failure to disclose the owner under scrutiny. Yu bowed twice in apology at a parliamentary audit by the National Assembly’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee on the 19th, but the opposition called for his resignation.
Yu is an art historian widely known for “My Cultural Heritage Travelogue.” He made his debut in 1981 in the art criticism category of the Dong-A Ilbo’s New Year Literary Contest, and has served as director of the Yeungnam University Museum and dean of Myongji University’s Graduate School of Culture and Arts, among other posts. He headed the Cultural Heritage Administration from 2004 to 2008.
[email protected] Jang In-seo Reporter